Target killings: Fresh wave of violence claims fourth life in Gilgit
According to the police, a man identified as Karim, resident of Domiyal, was shot dead near the District Jail while he was heading back home from office.
The situation in Giglit turned volatile late Saturday after law enforcing agencies raided a house in Napur to nab a fugitive. According to Gilgit Superintendent Police (SP) Wasil Khan, people pelted police officials with stones and fired shots in the air to stop the security personnel from entering the village.
“Police had to return fire in defence,” he said, adding that the fugitive was made to escape. The incident occurred at 11:00 pm in Napur, about 20 kilometres from Gilgit.
As part of the security measure, the district administration this week announced cancellation of arms licences and imposed a ban on pillion riding in the city.
“All the weapon licences issued earlier have been revoked and a ban has been imposed on pillion ridding,” said Usman Ahmed, Gilgit’s assistant commissioner. He said that steps were being taken to bring the law and order situation under control. In addition, the government also imposed Section 144 in the city. The official, however, avoided commenting on the causes of violence saying that the situation will become clear after investigations.
“It will be premature to comment on causes of these incidents,” he said.
Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Mehdi Shah also directed authorities to restore law and order in the capital city where at least three people have been killed and two others injured in the last two days.
Target killings started on Tuesday when unidentified armed men in Napur area shot dead a man. In retaliation, a man in the Basin area was attacked the same evening and injured by unidentified assailants.
On Wednesday morning, according to police, a bullet-riddled body was recovered from the Basin area and in the evening armed men gunned down Muhammad Hakim, a warden of a jail in the Jutial area.
On Thursday, Shafa Ali, a shopkeeper was attacked and injured near Naseem Cinema Chowk, triggering a protest by shopkeepers. The International Human Rights Observer [IHRO] Gilgit office in a statement criticised the government for failing to maintain law and order in the city.
“The IHRO strongly condemns terrorist attacks on innocent people. It has become a challenge for a good number of law enforcing agencies operating in Gilgit,” read the statement.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 7th, 2011.
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I call it high time for a massive operation against militants in Gigit before it become SWA or Swat. Since long mlitants have been using villages arround Gilgit as their safe heaven after fleeing from TAs. Look at the militants interest in Quetta, Parachinar, DI Khan, where they are targetting those who can't be their support at any cost. In reality, Islam is in danger in Pakistan, where only few people have clue about religion and majority is using Islam to punish their opponents.